Gaza truce talks falter, 17 die in latest aid shooting
The indirect talks over a US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire continued throughout Saturday, an Israeli official told Reuters, seven days since talks began. US President Donald Trump has said he hoped for a breakthrough soon based on a new US-backed ceasefire proposal.
In Gaza, medics said 17 people trying to get food aid were killed on Saturday when Israeli troops opened fire, the latest mass shooting around a US-backed aid distribution system that the UN says has resulted in 800 people killed in six weeks.
Witnesses who spoke to Reuters described people being shot in the head and torso. Reuters saw several bodies of victims wrapped in white shrouds as family members wept at Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military said its troops had fired warning shots, but that its review of the incident had found no evidence of anyone hurt by its soldiers' fire.
Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar pushing for an agreement which envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals and discussions on ending the war.
The Israeli official blamed the impasse on Hamas, which he said "remains stubborn, sticking to positions that do not allow the mediators to advance an agreement". Hamas has previously blamed Israeli demands for blocking a deal.
A Palestinian source said that Hamas had rejected withdrawal maps which Israel had proposed that would leave around 40 per cent of Gaza under Israeli control, including all of the southern area of Rafah and further territories in northern and eastern Gaza.
Two Israeli sources said Hamas wanted Israel to retreat to lines it held in a previous ceasefire before it renewed its offensive in March.
The Palestinian source said aid issues and guarantees on an end to the war were also presenting a challenge. The crisis could be resolved with more US intervention, the source said.
Hamas has long demanded an agreement to end the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would end the fighting only when all hostages are released and Hamas is dismantled as a fighting force and administration in Gaza.
Saturday's reported mass shooting near an aid distribution point in Rafah was the latest in a series of such incidents that the United Nations rights office said on Friday had seen at least 798 people killed trying to get food in six weeks.
"The shooting was targeted. It was not random. Some people were shot in the head, some in the torso, one guy next to me was shot directly in the heart," eyewitness Mahmoud Makram told Reuters.
"There is no mercy there, no mercy. People go because they are hungry but they die and come back in body bags."
After partially lifting a total blockade of all goods into Gaza in late May, Israel launched a new aid distribution system, relying on a group backed by the United States to distribute food under the protection of Israeli troops.
The United Nations has rejected the system as inherently dangerous and a violation of humanitarian neutrality principles. Israel says it is necessary to keep militants from diverting aid.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing about 1200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages there are believed to still be alive.
Israel's campaign against Hamas has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, displaced almost the entire population of more than two million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis and left much of the territory in ruins.
Thousands of Israelis rallied in central Tel Aviv on Saturday demanding a deal that would release all remaining hostages being held by Hamas.
Protester Boaz Levi told Reuters here was there to pressure the government, "to get to a hostage deal as soon as possible because our friends, brothers, are in Gaza and it's about the time to end this war. That is why we are here."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Health Check: Imugene goes to the well after reporting more blood cancer ‘cures'
Imugene reports two more 'complete responders' in its cell therapy trial Clever Culture Systems shares surge 17% on deal with Big Pharma Novo Nordisk Compumedics shares vault 24% after full-year update Imugene (ASX:IMU) will forge ahead with a planned pivotal US trial for its blood cancer therapy Azer-cel, having recorded more 'complete responses' in its phase 1b study. There's also the matter of cash, with Imugene shares this morning entering trading halt amidst a capital raising reportedly targeting $35 million. The trial is testing the company's CD-19 Car-T therapy on patients with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This is an especially aggressive blood cancer and these patients have failed multiple therapies. The company reports that of five further patients evaluated, two showed a 'complete response'. A complete response is the disappearance of all cancer signs – a.k.a. a cure. A further five showed a 'partial response' – at least a 50% cancer cell reduction. This takes the total number of complete responses to six and partial responses to three, out of 12 patients. The effect has endured for at least 60 days, with the first patient treated remaining cancer free at the 15-month mark. 'Allo 'allo, we're on to something If approved, Azer-cel would be the first off-the-shelf Car-T therapy using donor cells rather than the patients' own material. This is the allogeneic (allo), as opposed to autologous, method. Car-T therapies involve taking T-cells out of blood and tricking them up with agents that bolster their cancer-busting abilities. They are then re-introduced into the bloodstream. The re-engineered cells pursue a target, in this case the CD-19 protein expressed by blood cancers. Next stop: FDA The ongoing study is being carried out at 13 US sites and the first of five planned local sites. The company in February treated the first Australian participant, at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The subjects were dosed with Azercel, combined alongside chemotherapy and the immunity agent interleukin 2. Imugene plans to meet with the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the December quarter, to discuss a pivotal registration study. As of the end of March, Imugene held cash of $36 million. Drug development is hideously expensive and the last raising is never the final one, and what better time to go to the well than after positive clinical results? Imugene raised $53 million in 2023 and $80 million in 2020 and this year entered into a $20 million convertible note issue. Imugene shares have lost 68% year to date, adjusting for a share consolidation that reduced its 7.46 billion shares on issue to a more respectable 219 million. Clever Culture bulks up with fat-busting drug maker Clever Culture Systems (ASX:CC5) has signed up Big Pharma Novo Nordisk for one of its automated agar plate reading devices to monitor ultra-clean drug making facilities. The maker of the weight loss and diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, Novo Nordisk will acquire and appraise one of Clever Culture's AI-enabled device APAS Independence units, in view of a full global rollout across its facilities. The AI-enabled APAS Independence devices automatically read the hundreds of agar plates required to ensure that pathogens don't enter aseptic facilities. The units can manage 200 plates per hour, freeing up microbiologists to focus on the minority of plates that read positive. To date Clever Culture has focused on 90 millimetre 'settle' plates that are left open, to absorb any nasties in the room. A tweaked APAS also will read 55mm 'contact' plates, which are dabbed on surfaces, such as a gown or gloved fingertips. Nova Nordisk will assess both settle and contact plate modules. Courting Big Pharma Clever Culture CEO Brent Barnes says the 'milestone' deal aligns with the company's focus on the big drug makers, most of which have centres to appraise new products. To date Clever Culture also sold the devices to Astrazeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb and Thermo Fisher Pharma Services, while a fifth drug maker recently completed a 'successful evaluation'. The five drug makers on the books represent a sales opportunity of between 60 to 80 units. At last count the company had 13 APAS devices in the field, with foundation client Astrazeneca accounting for nine of them. The company cites a 'pipeline' of 40 customers, representing upfront revenue of about $75 million and $15 million of recurring revenue. The APAS unit sells for US$350,000, but Clever Culture then derives ongoing income from an annual software licence of US$30,000 (rising to US$50,000 with the contact plate modality). There's also an annual hardware maintenance fee of $US15,000-25,000. The FDA approved APAS Independence in May 2019 and European regulators followed suit in September 2021. There's no snoozing at Compumedics Sleep and neurological testing house Compumedics (ASX:CMP) has reported record revenue of $51 million for the year to June 2025, up 4%. What's more, the company has returned to profitability, with underlying earnings of $3 million. Compumedics also reports record sales orders of $63.4 million, up 22%. The key driving force was the growth of the US sleep diagnostics arm, up 39% to $53 million. The company also affirmed current year guidance of revenue of at least $70 million and underlying earnings of around $9 million. 'This result reflects the step-change underway at Compumedics,' founder and executive chairman Dr David Burton says. "We are building a more predictable, higher-margin business model and seeing consistent revenue growth, expanding margins and meaningful traction in the US." Proteomics ain't horsing around In time for the spring racing season, Proteomics International Laboratories (ASX:PIQ) says its oxidative stress test Oxidx can detect muscle damage in thoroughbreds. As published in the peer-reviewed journal Veterinary Medicine and Science, the 'groundbreaking' results show Oxidx can identify and assess recovery from exercise-induced damage. The study was based on 34 nags. The company says up to 85% of thoroughbreds sustain at least one injury during their racing seasons, potentially because of undetected muscle injuries. 'Oxidative stress has been implicated in many disease and injury states, with levels often reflective of a person or animal's health condition.' Via its 66% owned OxiDx Pty Ltd, Proteomics plans to launch Oxidx locally in the current half. Proteomics has a commercialised diabetic kidney disease diagnosis and plans to launch an endometriosis assay locally in the current quarter. No pay, no worries says Pacific Edge Pacific Edge (ASX:PEB) reports resilient demand for its bladder cancer diagnostic in the US, despite authorities withdrawing reimbursement coverage. The Kiwi-based company said US June quarter test volumes declined 12% to 5717, relative to the March quarter. Asia Pacific volumes – including those derived here – rose 8.8% to 1183. The company attributed the decline mainly to customers moving to its Cxbladder Triage product, from the discontinued Cxbladder Detect. Cxbladder Triage tests accounted for 77% of total US assays, up from 22% in the March quarter. Pacific Edge also said it had held positive discussions with Novitas, its US Medicare gatekeeper, about reinstating coverage. This was 'based on evidence not considered in the review that led to the non-coverage decision.'
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Trump says US will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine
US President Donald Trump says he will send Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine, saying they are necessary to defend the country because Russian President Vladimir Putin "talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening". Speaking to journalists at Joint Base Andrews military airfield near Washington, on Sunday, Trump described the deal as a business transaction. "The European Union is paying for it. We're not paying anything for it, but we will send it." The US president has grown increasingly disenchanted with Putin because the Russian leader has resisted Trump's attempts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked for more defensive capabilities to fend off a daily barrage of missile and drone attacks from Russia. "We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people," Trump said. "He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening. But there's a little bit of a problem there. I don't like it," Trump said. "We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100 per cent for that, and that's the way we want it," Trump said. He plans to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Ukraine and other issues this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian fire. He has accused Russia of increasingly terrorising his country's civilians, reporting that at least 1800 drones were launched at Ukraine in the past week. Russian forces also dropped more than 1200 glide bombs on Ukraine this week and launched 83 missiles, the president said on Telegram on Sunday. "The Russians are increasing the terror against cities and municipalities, to intimidate our people even further," Zelenskiy wrote. The Ukrainian leader meanwhile praised the country's air defence. Specially developed interceptor drones shot down hundreds of Iranian-made Shahed combat drones launched at Ukraine this week, he said. Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years, in large parts thanks to foreign weapons. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to meet Trump this week. NATO in a statement said Rutte would be in Washington DC on Monday and Tuesday and would meet with Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as well as Congress. with dpa US President Donald Trump says he will send Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine, saying they are necessary to defend the country because Russian President Vladimir Putin "talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening". Speaking to journalists at Joint Base Andrews military airfield near Washington, on Sunday, Trump described the deal as a business transaction. "The European Union is paying for it. We're not paying anything for it, but we will send it." The US president has grown increasingly disenchanted with Putin because the Russian leader has resisted Trump's attempts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked for more defensive capabilities to fend off a daily barrage of missile and drone attacks from Russia. "We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people," Trump said. "He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening. But there's a little bit of a problem there. I don't like it," Trump said. "We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100 per cent for that, and that's the way we want it," Trump said. He plans to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Ukraine and other issues this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian fire. He has accused Russia of increasingly terrorising his country's civilians, reporting that at least 1800 drones were launched at Ukraine in the past week. Russian forces also dropped more than 1200 glide bombs on Ukraine this week and launched 83 missiles, the president said on Telegram on Sunday. "The Russians are increasing the terror against cities and municipalities, to intimidate our people even further," Zelenskiy wrote. The Ukrainian leader meanwhile praised the country's air defence. Specially developed interceptor drones shot down hundreds of Iranian-made Shahed combat drones launched at Ukraine this week, he said. Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years, in large parts thanks to foreign weapons. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to meet Trump this week. NATO in a statement said Rutte would be in Washington DC on Monday and Tuesday and would meet with Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as well as Congress. with dpa US President Donald Trump says he will send Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine, saying they are necessary to defend the country because Russian President Vladimir Putin "talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening". Speaking to journalists at Joint Base Andrews military airfield near Washington, on Sunday, Trump described the deal as a business transaction. "The European Union is paying for it. We're not paying anything for it, but we will send it." The US president has grown increasingly disenchanted with Putin because the Russian leader has resisted Trump's attempts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked for more defensive capabilities to fend off a daily barrage of missile and drone attacks from Russia. "We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people," Trump said. "He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening. But there's a little bit of a problem there. I don't like it," Trump said. "We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100 per cent for that, and that's the way we want it," Trump said. He plans to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Ukraine and other issues this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian fire. He has accused Russia of increasingly terrorising his country's civilians, reporting that at least 1800 drones were launched at Ukraine in the past week. Russian forces also dropped more than 1200 glide bombs on Ukraine this week and launched 83 missiles, the president said on Telegram on Sunday. "The Russians are increasing the terror against cities and municipalities, to intimidate our people even further," Zelenskiy wrote. The Ukrainian leader meanwhile praised the country's air defence. Specially developed interceptor drones shot down hundreds of Iranian-made Shahed combat drones launched at Ukraine this week, he said. Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years, in large parts thanks to foreign weapons. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to meet Trump this week. NATO in a statement said Rutte would be in Washington DC on Monday and Tuesday and would meet with Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as well as Congress. with dpa US President Donald Trump says he will send Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine, saying they are necessary to defend the country because Russian President Vladimir Putin "talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening". Speaking to journalists at Joint Base Andrews military airfield near Washington, on Sunday, Trump described the deal as a business transaction. "The European Union is paying for it. We're not paying anything for it, but we will send it." The US president has grown increasingly disenchanted with Putin because the Russian leader has resisted Trump's attempts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked for more defensive capabilities to fend off a daily barrage of missile and drone attacks from Russia. "We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people," Trump said. "He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening. But there's a little bit of a problem there. I don't like it," Trump said. "We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100 per cent for that, and that's the way we want it," Trump said. He plans to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Ukraine and other issues this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian fire. He has accused Russia of increasingly terrorising his country's civilians, reporting that at least 1800 drones were launched at Ukraine in the past week. Russian forces also dropped more than 1200 glide bombs on Ukraine this week and launched 83 missiles, the president said on Telegram on Sunday. "The Russians are increasing the terror against cities and municipalities, to intimidate our people even further," Zelenskiy wrote. The Ukrainian leader meanwhile praised the country's air defence. Specially developed interceptor drones shot down hundreds of Iranian-made Shahed combat drones launched at Ukraine this week, he said. Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years, in large parts thanks to foreign weapons. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to meet Trump this week. NATO in a statement said Rutte would be in Washington DC on Monday and Tuesday and would meet with Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as well as Congress. with dpa
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
King Charles' ‘unprecedented, historic' invitation to US President Donald Trump
Donald Trump is officially locked in for an 'unprecedented' state visit to the United Kingdom later this year. King Charles III had formally invited the US President and the First Lady, Mrs. Melania Trump, to the UK, with Buckingham Palace announcing Monday the invitation had been accepted. The monarch and his wife Queen Camilla are set to host Mr Trump and Mrs Trump at Windsor Castle for two days from September 17 until September 19, heralding a royal offer which has not been presented to any world leader in history. Second-term presidents, traditionally, aren't given another grand state visit. President Barack Obama, in his second-term, was offered tea at Windsor Castle, as was George W. Bush. 'His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to hosting him and the First Lady later this year,' a Buckingham Palace aide told the BBC in June, when it was reported members of the British Embassy had delivered an official invite to the White House. Mr Trump last visited the UK in an official capacity in 2019, when he embarked on a state visit hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2019. Mr Trump discussed the 'unprecedented' invitation in signature fashion when speaking to reporters back in April. 'They're going to do a second, as you know, a second fest … that's what it is: a fest, and it's beautiful, and it's the first time it's ever happened to one person,' he said. 'And the reason is we have two separate terms, and it's an honour … I'm a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family. 'And I think they're setting a date for September.' It comes after the pair were initially expected to meet informally over the summer, but their schedules didn't allow for a catch up. Discussions first began back in February when Mr Trump met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington, in which Mr Starmer presented a letter to the president in the Oval Office. Mr Starmer said it contained an invitation for an 'unprecedented second state visit.' 'This is really special. This has never happened before. Unprecedented,' Starmer said to the press. 'I think that just symbolises the strength of the relationship between us. 'I think the last state visit was a tremendous success. His Majesty the King wants to make this even better than that. So, this is truly historic.' 'The answer is yes,' Trump responded.
